Rail-brace.



.PATENTED .JULY 21, 1908.

A. J. KNOUSE.

RAIL BRAGE. APPLIGATION HLBD AUG. 17, 1907.

i UNITED sir-Ariasv `raz-univr onirron.

ALEXANDER JEFERSON KNOUSE, BENTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-BRACE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER J EFERsoN KNoUsE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Benton, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Braces, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to rail-braces and more particularly to that class which engage the opposite flange and web of a track section and are adjustable to provide for the correct iitting of the same to any rails, and also to prevent the lateral spreading of the latter.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a brace for the engagement with opposite rails to prevent the spreading thereof when having been properly positioned in the road bed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a brace to couple track-rails and by which the latter can be easily drawn together and separated from each other.

A further object of the invention is the` provision of an adjustable brace for engaging track-rails and including flexible means associated with two clamp elements adapted to grip the track-rails, so as to obtain free movement of the said elements independent of eachother and also allow of their independent adjustment.

In event the track-rails should creep in either a-forward or backward direction, due to the expansion and contraction of the material, the iiexible connection means of the clamping elements will permit such movement and in no'wise fracture or strain said elements, thus producing a exible oint intermediate the same. Furthermore, this exible connecting means permits the two clamp elements to move freely inward with respect to each other, but, prevents lateral spreading of the same, and, thereby allows the track-rails to exp and and contract created by the changes in the temperature of the climate. 'p

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a rail or track-brace, sim le, durable, eflicient, and inexpensive in t e manufacture.

y In the drawing forming part of this speciication I have shown one effective form of the embodiment of the invention which, to enable those skilled in the art to practice Specification of Letters Patent.

App1icaton filed August 17, 1907'.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Serial No. 389,070.

the same, will be fully set forth the followv ing description, while the novelty of the invention will be included in the clailns succeedin said description.

In t e drawings,: Figure 1, is a plan view of the invention applied to rails. Fig. 2, is a side view of the invention applied vto the rails or track, the latter being shown in section. Fig. 8, is a sectional view of the loop member. Fig. 4, is a fragmentary perspective view of the loop member and clamp elements associated therewith.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 2, indicates rails which are engaged by clamp elements,

as 3, the latter including rods, as 4, each having one end iiattened, as 6, to receive the base of the rails 2, and thereby form a bearing surface. Said flattened portion 6, of each rod is bent on itself, as 7, to conform to the shape of the ange and web of the rails to reinforce and strengthen the same. The opposite end of each rod'5, is provided with a screw threaded terminal as at 8, which freely passes. through an opening as at 9, formed in either end of a loop member as at l0. ed terminals of the rods 4, are threaded nuts as 1l, and 12, the latter nuts adapted to lock the nuts l1, against movement when having been properly adjusted upon the rods 4.

operation the clamp elements 3, are positioned with respect to the rails so that the atter will rest upon the attened portion 6, of the rods 3, and lie contiguous to the bent extremity 7. Now should it be desired to alter the position of either one of the rails it will be necessary to turn the lock nuts 12, to permit the movement of the nuts ll `then by adjusting the latter nuts upon the rods 4, the clamp elements 3, can be shifted away from or towards eachother. In this manner the rails will be properly positioned with respect to each other.

Should it be only necessary to adjust one of the rails 2, this can be done by loosening nuts 11, and 12, on one threadedextremity of the rods 4, and then manipulating said nut 11, on the rod 2, until the desired adjustment has been made to bring the rails in alinement with the remainder of the said rails.

In engagement with these threadloop member.

It will be apparent that in event the rails on either side should creep on the ties the loop member 10, having loose connection at the ends of the rods 4, will prevent amming and the rods can be readily adjusted. Furthermore, it is obvious that the rods 4, at their threaded terminals 8, pass freely through the openings 9, in the loop member l0, and are 'engaged by nuts'll, and 12, which have bearing at the inner side of said loo member, so that the clamp elements 3, wil withstand a "reate'r amount of lateral strain and weight efore the rails will spread and in fact the loop member l0, would have to break before spreading could occur or take place.

The threaded extremities of the rods 4, are not in. threaded engagement with the loop member 1,0,and thereby, overcome the liability of the threads on the rods stripping therefrom, which will prevent the freeing of the said rods from connection with the loop member to allow accidental s reading of the rails, but, said rods 4, are he d against accidental release from the loop member by the engagement of the nuts 11, -and 12, upon the ends of the rods and arranged 'within the said Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

' 1. A rail brace comprising oppositely disposed rods having threaded inner extremities a'nd 'rail engaging outer extremities, an endless loop having opposed perforations, said threaded extremities being adapted to freely pass through said perforations and projecting Va distance within said loop, and jam nuts en aging the threaded extremities of the rods, whereby the latter are flexibly connected to the said loop.

2. A rail brace comprising rods, each bent on itself to form a rall engaging extremity, the opposite end of each of said rods having screw threads," an endless loo containing opposite openingsthrou'h Whic freely pass the threaded ends of sai rods, and lock nuts on the threaded ends of said rods within the loop, whereby the rods are iiexibly connected to said loop.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALEXANDER JEFERSON KNOUSE. Witnesses:

J. R. KEELER,

ANDREW D. FRITZ. 

